Cheorwon Hantan River Durumi Bridge Wins Technical Award at International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering

2025 IABSE Pedestrian Bridge Category
Securing Stability and Aesthetics with Hyperboloid Structure

The Hantan River Durumi Bridge in Cheorwon has won the Technical Award in the Pedestrian Bridge Category at the 2025 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).

The Duru Bridge over the Hantan River received the "Pedestrian Bridge Technical Award" at the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) held in Zurich, Switzerland, on the 14th local time. Provided by Cheorwon County

According to Cheorwon County (Governor Lee Hyun-jong) on the 17th, the Hantan River Durumi Bridge received the 'Technical Award in the Pedestrian and Cycle Bridges Category (Project and Technology Awards 2025 for Pedestrian and Cycle Bridges)' at the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) held in Zurich, Switzerland, on the 14th local time.

The Hantan River Durumi Bridge in Cheorwon is a 2-meter-wide, 201-meter-long cable-stayed pedestrian bridge that connects Guntan-ri in Galmal-eup, Cheorwon, and Naengjeong-ri in Gwanin-myeon, Pocheon. The bridge was designed in a ring shape to resemble a crane and to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

IABSE is a prestigious association in the field of bridges and structures, with about 4,500 members from over 100 countries worldwide. The selection for this award was made through a rigorous review by the evaluation committee.

The review highlighted that the bridge secured both structural stability and aesthetics by applying a hyperboloid (doubly curved surface) structure and advanced construction techniques. The use of the tunnel effect to provide a sense of security for users, as well as the harmony achieved with the natural environment of the Hantan River columnar joints, a UNESCO Global Geopark, were also highly praised.

According to Cheorwon County, in addition to this award, the Durumi Bridge also won the Grand Prize in the Long Span (over 60 meters) category at the '2025 International Footbridge Awards' hosted by the footbridge conference held in Chur, Switzerland, in September, with participation from 35 countries including Korea, Belgium, Germany, and Hungary.

The bridge also received the Gold Prize in the Outstanding Structure category from the Korean Society of Bridge and Structural Engineers, earning recognition for its technology not only in Korea but also globally.

Governor Lee Hyun-jong stated, "With the Durumi Bridge installed in the Hantan River Gorge being internationally recognized, we will work to preserve the ecological resources of the Hantan River and create a space that many people can enjoy. We expect it to become a representative tourist facility for the region and contribute to revitalizing the local economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.